May 18, 2004

U.S. Labor Department Launches National Education Campaign “Getting It Right—Know Your Fiduciary Responsibilities”

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

WASHINGTON—Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today launched a nationwide campaign to improve workers’ health and retirement security by educating employers and service providers about their fiduciary responsibilities under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). This is the latest in a series of compliance assistance initiatives by the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA).

May 18, 2004

U.S. Labor Department Sues New York Aviation Firm and Owner For Alleged Misuse of More Than $1.6 Million in 401(k) Assets

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

New York, New York - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Lawrence Aviation Industries Inc. of Brookhaven, New York and its owner for making undocumented loans from the plan to themselves and failing to collect on the unpaid loans.

May 17, 2004

U.S. Labor Department Issues Report on Emergency
Preparedness for Federal Workers with Disabilities

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Labor Department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) today released a report that gives federal officials and workers key advice and comprehensive recommendations on ensuring a safe and secure environment for the more than 120,000 employees with disabilities who work in buildings, regional offices or field locations owned or leased by the federal government.

May 12, 2004

Labor Department Secretary Praises Children's
World Congress

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao praised the efforts of an international assembly of 500 children and world leaders who are meeting in Florence, Italy at the Children’s World Congress to find better ways to combat the worst forms of child labor.

May 12, 2004

Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Announces Settlements Restoring at Least $66.5 Million to Enron Retirement Plans

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

May 11, 2004

Labor Department Issues Third Report on Child
Labor in Trade Beneficiary Countries: Report Specified Under the Trade and
Development Act

Report Specified Under the Trade and Development Act

WASHINGTON—The Labor Department today released its third annual report on the worst forms of child labor in 144 countries and territories that receive U.S. trade benefits.

May 7, 2004

Labor Solicitor Announces Overtime Security Amicus
Program: Program Designed to Correct Misinformation about Stronger Worker
Protections

Program Designed to Correct Misinformation about Stronger Worker Protections

WASHINGTON—In a nationwide teleconference sponsored by the American Bar Association this week, Solicitor of Labor Howard Radzely announced a new Overtime Security Amicus Program at the Department of Labor. The Department is establishing this program to counter an unprecedented misinformation campaign against the stronger worker protections contained in the new rule.

May 7, 2004

U.S. Labor Department Sues Fiduciaries of Illinois Simple IRA Plan Over Misuse of Employee Contributions

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Chicago, Illinois - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued defunct L.R.D.S., Inc., of Orland Park, Illinois and an owner of the floral distributor for failing to forward employee contributions to the company’s Simple IRA Plan.

May 7, 2004

Media Advisory - HIPAA and Other Health Laws: Maryland Compliance Assistance Seminar

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington, DC - The Compliance Assistance Seminar sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) and the Maryland Department of Insurance, will take place in Annapolis, Maryland, on May 19-20, 2004 at the Sheraton Barcelo, 173 Jennifer Road.

May 6, 2004

U.S. Labor Department Obtains Judgment Against Florida Dentist And Medical Practice to Restore Retirement Assets

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

May 4, 2004

DOL Official Joins with FOP and SBA in Correcting
Misinformation Campaign Regarding Police and Overtime Protection

WASHINGTON—At a news conference today Chuck Canterbury, President of the nation’s largest police labor organization in America, the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), and Ed Mullins, President of the Sergeants Benevolent Association of the New York City Police Department (SBA), the largest police sergeants organization in America, joined with Department of Labor Wage and Hour Administrator Tammy McCutchen in denouncing the new low in the campaign of misinformation being waged against the Department’s new Overtime Security rules for white collar workers.

May 4, 2004

Wage & Hour Division Administrator Testifies:
Harkin Amendment Will Put OT Protections at Risk for Millions

WASHINGTON—U.S. Wage and House Division Administrator Tammy McCutchen today told a Senate subcommittee that the Labor Department’s new overtime security rules will strengthen and guarantee overtime pay protection for 6.7 million additional workers.

April 28, 2004

U.S. Labor Secretary Testifies in Support of New
Overtime Security Rules

WASHINGTON—In testimony before the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee, U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao today said the Department’s new overtime security rules will strengthen and guarantee overtime pay protection for an unprecedented 6.7 million additional workers and make the existing rules much easier for workers and employers to understand.

April 27, 2004

U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Announces
New Enforcement Task Force

NEW ORLEANS, La.—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today named a new enforcement task force within the Wage and Hour division of the Department of Labor to maximize protection of workers’ pay rights under new Overtime Security rules announced last week. The announcement followed a meeting Secretary Chao held with Department of Labor Wage and Hour regional managers and district directors.

April 26, 2004

U.S. Department of Labor Launches Nationwide
YouthRules! Outreach Campaign: Over 6,000 Radios Stations and 10,000 Newspapers
will Receive Public Service Announcements

Over 6,000 Radio Stations and 10,000 Newspapers will Receive Public Service Announcements

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor has launched a nationwide outreach campaign to increase awareness about youth employment laws as part of the YouthRules! Initiative. YouthRules! promotes positive and safe work experiences for young workers by educating parents, teens, employers, and educators about the types of jobs teens can hold and the number of hours they can work.

April 23, 2004

Labor Department New White Collar Overtime Rules
Published Today: New Rule available at the Federal Register

New Rule available at the Federal Register

WASHINGTON—New rules governing overtime rights for white-collar workers are published today in the Federal Register. The Department of Labor announced the new overtime rules in a news conference earlier this week. The regulations become effective in 120 calendar days.

April 23, 2004

Labor Department Obtains Consent Judgment Against Trustees of Pension Plan of Alabama Corporation

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Atlanta, Georgia - The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment permanently barring the former trustees of the profit sharing plan of Bama Wood Inc. in Montgomery, Alabama, from serving as fiduciaries or in positions of trust to employee benefit plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.